The Office of Continuing Education & Lifelong Learning (CELL) is an administrative support unit within the Division of Academic Affairs. Initially created as the Division of Continuing Education & Special Programs (CESP) in the November-1997, the unit is directed by a Chief Unit Officer (CUO) and provides support to the Office of the Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs. Additionally, the CUO serves as a member of the Council of Academic Deans (CAD) and is also represented on the President’s Council.
CELL is located on the south periphery of the campus in the Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center and is easily accessible to the general public with ample parking for program clients, customers and constituents.
CELL is comprised of five (5) primary areas/offices that include the Offices of: Distance Learning (DL); Economic & Workforce Development (EWD); Educational Agreements, Consortiums & Partnerships (EACP); Lifelong Learning & Outreach (LLO); and, Professional Continuing Education (PCE).
Continuing Education & Lifelong Learning’s (CELL’s) vision of “providing lifelong learning experiences that are affordable, beneficial, and meaningful to multiple audiences with multiple interests/needs” promotes the concept of “education anytime, anywhere”. This vision is also in support of GSU’s mission of fostering, through its students…“a commitment to service and to the improvement in the quality of life for all persons”. The mission of CELL is to facilitate the university’s outreach, public service and related lifelong learning opportunities particularly to the residents of North Central Louisiana. Additionally, it is the Unit’s philosophy to “engage the university in creative non-traditional learning experiences targeted for individuals who desire to supplement and/or expand their knowledge base”. Furthermore, CELL embraces the concept of lifelong learning and strives to facilitate this effort on behalf of the university. The intended target audience for CELL will be adult learners otherwise known as non-traditional learners. While GSU is historically a residential campus, the largest percentage of college students (nationwide) is age 25 and above. It is this market of learners that CELL will target relative to facilitating unique learning opportunities in collaboration with each of GSU’s degree-granting colleges/schools.
GSU via CELL is a member in good standing with the following professional organizations: Association for Continuing Higher Education (ACHE); Consortium for Education, Research, & Technology (CERT) of North Louisiana; Delta Citizens Alliance (DCA); Louisiana Association for Continuing Higher Education (LACHE); and, Mississippi Delta Grassroots Caucus (MDGC).
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